Alexei Kovalev knows well the pain that goes along with a serious knee injury.

Seven years ago, a torn ACL in his right knee cost him much of the season. That’s why yesterday, despite having hobbled off the ice during practice, Kovalev was confident the injury that he suffered to his left knee wasn’t that big a deal.

“I would know right away if it was bad,” said Kovalev, who got tangled up with Dan LaCouture during a drill. LaCouture lost his balance and fell on Kovalev’s knee as Kovalev was reaching for the puck. “You would get a pop or something and the knee would be swollen. This was nothing close to it.”

Rangers trainer Jim Ramsay told Kovalev it was likely a mild MCL sprain. Still, for a team that has been fighting through injuries throughout this young season, it wasn’t great news. Kovalev’s status for tonight’s game against Anaheim at the Garden is uncertain.

“I’ll see how it feels [today],” said Kovalev, adding that there was a little bit of swelling. “It feels like I could play.”

Kovalev added that he might skate even if the knee was bothering him, as long as the pain wasn’t too severe.

“I’ll probably decide to play hurt a few games if I’m able to play,” Kovalev said. “But I won’t force it.”

Head coach Glen Sather sounded more cautious.

“It’s early in the season, there’s no reason [to play hurt],” Sather said. “Right now, I’d just be guessing if I told you he would play or not.”

Sather will see how Kovalev comes back today before having him play against the Ducks, and despite Kovalev’s optimistic words, Sather remained patient.

“When I saw him go down, I was hoping it wasn’t serious, but who knows?” Sather said. “You’re better off waiting until the next day or the day after.”

When told of the early diagnosis and Kovalev’s claim that he didn’t think it was a significant injury, Sather said, “I’ve heard that one before.”

Kovalev was doing his best to stay upbeat.

“It’s frustrating, but I have to stay positive,” Kovalev said. “I don’t ever want to think that it’s bad.”